REVIEW: ‘To Your Eternity,’ Season 2 Episode 14 – “Morning of Rebirth”

With the secret that Fushi is the one rebuilding Renril out in the open, the work to prepare the city for the impending Nokker attack continues. As the battle draws close though, questions are asked in a clandestine meeting that brings to light more details about Fushi and the mysterious Observer in To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 14.

A lot is happening in this episode. While the final preparations for the battle take center stage, there is still one notable structure in Renril that needs Fushi’s special brand of renovation. The center of it all: the castle. How Fushi gets the Princess’ final approval to work his magic on this most important structure is a work of narrative perfection. As simple in execution as its ramifications are momentous, an act of kindness and Fushi simply being his most admirable self is the heartfelt moment I needed from him. With how haggard and frequently cross he’s been with others, I was beginning to worry that the show’s story was going to trample this best side of Fushi under the weight of his fight against the Nokkers. I’m so happy that the compassion that he has always had was allowed to shine so brightly here.

With the city on the eve of battle, Bon calls the trio of companions he brought with him to Renril to have a talk about what is to come. But along with these three, another individual takes part in this meeting. The Observer, who made Fushi and has walked quietly alongside him is called by Bon to answer some questions. The only thing more surprising to me than this moment happening is that it isn’t the biggest moment of the episode.

Through Bon’s questioning, To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 14 gives us more insight into The Observer, his intentions, and his motivations than we have had before. While not all questions are answered, and even some wholly new ones are raised by the meeting, this exchange brings so much to the story that I’m still rolling the implications through my head.

This dialogue is made even better by the strong voice work done by Kenjirô Tsuda (The Ingenuity of the Househusband, Jujutsu Kaisen 0) as the voice of The Observer. For the first time I can remember in the series, Tsuda’s voice shows hints of emotion as the quartet of humans question him and react to the answers he gives. The subtleties that Tsuda uses to deliver the character’s voice belies the emotion behind them wonderfully, while not completely breaking the reserved facade the character has always maintained. 

As the episode closes and the Nokker attack finally begins, one last surprise brings this episode to a startling end. I can’t spoil what it is, but it is a game-changer that, once Fushi becomes aware of it, will undoubtedly alter the course of the series far beyond this episode.

To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 14 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.